Into the unknown

From vast wilderness areas to remote swamps, Zambia has much to offer the adventurous traveller. Gemma Catlin explores some of the country’s far-flung corners

The view, from Mayense Rock, of Mutinondo, a 10,000-hectare wilderness in northern Zambia

Gemma Catlin

This is an expedition! You won’t be following roads; you’ll be making them. And don’t expect to see many people; there aren’t many where you’re going,” Mark Sprong, owner of Land & Lake Safaris, tells us with a grin.

Testing the water. Guides cross the Mupamadzi River, a major tributary of the Luangwa River

Our team comprises Henry, our driver and expert guide; Peter, bush cook extraordinaire; Ulrich, a German banker who spends his holidays stalking big cats with a telephoto lens; Julia, a free-spirited explorer; and me, an enthusiastic glamper. Our plan is to spend the next two weeks discovering some of Zambia’s more far- fung corners, most of which are usually accessed by light aircraft. We, however, have opted for an eight-seater Nissan 4WD.